A ROYAL Marine from Hinckley will spend Christmas treating wounded children in war-torn Afghanistan.

Sarah Foster, 22, left to serve with the Whiskey Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines, five weeks ago as the only woman in her unit.

Now she is getting ready to spend Christmas in one of the most dangerous places on earth - but her boss says she is more than up to all the challenges of the tour.

Surgeon Lieutenant Henry Dowlen said: “Sarah has had to prove herself to Whiskey Company the same as any other Medical Assistant, but due to the physical demands of the task, people will always question females more than their male counterparts.

“Sarah has proved that she can do the job, and she is well respected by the company.”

She is now working for the UK Joint Force Medical Group for Battle Group (North) in the Helmand Province.

A typical day involves giving medical advice to other units, going on routine patrols and treating Afghan nationals.

So far Sarah has already helped a group of children who had suffered burns.

She said: “That was quite hard to cope with initially, but the support of colleagues and family members made it a lot easier.”

This is Sarah’s second six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, and last time she was in the country she missed her 21st birthday celebrations.

Mum Mandy, 50, said that her family were all thinking of her as she serves her country.

“Because she has been out there before she knows what to expect,” she said. “But it’s hard for us, we don’t really know what is going on.

“She is always on our minds. We will be so glad when she is back in the country.

“She seems to have adapted really well. Sarah loves her job, and loves helping people. She is that sort of person really.”

Sarah is a former pupil of Redmoor High School and John Cleveland College.

She joined the Royal Navy in 2004, and has served on HMS Bulwark, and trained in the Arctic.

Her interest in medicine started when she completed a training course as part of her training as a lifeguard at Hinckley Leisure Centre.